By Tope Banso
Different things give people a false sense of security in life. It could be one’s wealth, position, family background, social class, education, and so on.
Wealth, for instance, has a tendency to inflate one’s ego and give one a false sense of security. This was true of the wealthy people in Zion (Jerusalem), the capital of the Southern kingdom of Israel and Samaria, the capital of the Northern kingdom.
The LORD looked at them and said, “How terrible it will be for you who lounge in luxury and think you are secure in Jerusalem and Samaria!” (Amos 6:1a New Living Translation). These people became proud because of their wealth, and thought no evil could befall them because of the military might and economic prosperity of their nations. They felt that after all, they were famous and popular in Israel, and others went to them for help (verse 16).
However, the LORD had bad news for these wealthy people. They would be the first to be led into captivity as they were not better than the other cities that had been destroyed because of their pride.
Hear the LORD: “Go over to Calneh and see; and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory? Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, who cause the seat of violence to come near; who lie on beds of ivory, stretch out on your couches, eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall” (verses 2-4 New King James Version).
The LORD continued in verses 5-7: “Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, and invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; who drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, and those who recline at banquets shall be removed” (New King James Version).
Did you see what the LORD said would happen to these wealthy people who were selfish, enjoying themselves and didn’t bother about the affliction of other Israelites or their nations going to ruin. They have made their wealth their security and couldn’t imagine that that their wealth could fail them!
Don’t you see around you wealthy people who have expended money to provide security for themselves? But is it always failproof? Aren’t the weaknesses of their security measures exposed at times?
Psalm 33:16-17 says, “No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength” (New King James Version).
Someone may ask, “Didn’t Solomon say that money is a defence?” Yes, that is true, but it is relative. It must be put in a proper perspective. Beware of having a false sense of security because of your money. “For wisdom is a protection even as money is a protection, but the [excellent ] advantage of knowledge is that wisdom shields and preserves the lives of his possessors” (Ecclesiastes 7:12 Amplified Bible).
Money does not always protect. Therefore, nobody should allow it to give him a false sense of security. Even with security by the best trained security personnel that money can provide, one must never allow that to give one a false sense of security. The security personnel are human beings, not God. Their weapons are physical, not spiritual.
Isaiah 31:3 puts it this way: “Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, both he who helps will fall, and he who is helped will fall down; they all will perish together” (New King James Version).
Instead of the house of Israel to repent of and return to the LORD, they had a false sense of security. But the LORD said in Amos 9:10, “All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, who say, ‘The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us’” (New King James Version).
The prosperity of the wicked is for a short time. “Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors” (Psalm 73:18-19 New King James Version).
True security is in God. “Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain” (Psalm 30:7a New Living Translation). Psalm 125:2 says, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever” (New King James Version). David said though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, he would fear no evil; for the LORD was with him and His rod and staff comforted him (Psalm 23:4). He didn’t have a false sense of security. Rather, he enjoyed divine security or protection.
Your family background, societal status, education, good job, fat bank accounts, human relationships, and the rest cannot give one true security. Whoever feels secure because of any of this is standing on sinking sand and not on the Solid rock. Any of these can fail any time without any warning. People have lost wealth, jobs, relationships, etc., which gave them security before. Beware!
The LORD said to the people of Jerusalem, “’Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain,’ says the LORD, ‘Who say, ‘Who shall come down against us? Or who shall enter our dwellings?’ But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings,’ says the LORD; ‘I will kindle a fire in its forest, and it shall devour all things around it’” (Jeremiah 21:13-14 New King James Version).
The prophet Isaiah said, “The voice said, ‘Cry out!’ And he said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever’” (Isaiah 40:6-8 New King James Version).
Don’t let anything or any human being give you false security. Don’t trust in horses and chariots; trust in the LORD. “Some trust in chariots , and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright” (Psalm 20:7-8 New King James Version). Don’t make anything earthly your security.
The LORD sometimes shows those who trust other things apart from Him as their security that He is the LORD. He says in Ezekiel 39:6, “And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the LORD” (New King James Version). Don’t let God show you in a negative way that He is the LORD.
He said concerning the Ammonites, who were the descendants of Lot, “You are proud of your fertile valleys, but they will soon be ruined. You rebellious daughter, you trusted in your wealth and thought no one could ever harm you. But look! I will bring terror upon you,’ says the Lord, the LORD Almighty. ‘Your neighbors will chase you from your land, and no one will help your exiles as they flee” (Jeremiah 49:4-5 New Living Translation).
Where is your security? In God or in something, or somebody else? That song says, “On Christ the Solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.” What are you standing on as your security other than Jesus Christ?
The Bible even warns those who have a false sense of security spiritually. Some have a false sense of eternal security while practising sin! Those who believe they’re secure spiritually had better be truly, otherwise their claims mean nothing.
Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And
then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 New King James Version).
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, You are my security. Thank You for watching over me continuously. Make me as secure as a mountain. I shall not trust in chariots or in horses; but I will remember the name of the LORD. My security shall not be in my wealth, job, position, or any other thing but You, LORD.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For over 300 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪︎ Banso, an Abuja-based Minister heads Cedar Ministry International, and can be reached at cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com; Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523;
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947